Mainebiz

May 28, 2018

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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 13 M AY 2 8 , 2 0 1 8 F O C U S L E W I S TO N / AU B U R N PORTLAND 207. 482.7920 | AUBURN 207. 791.2110 | NorwaySavings.bank these are my people I N V E S T M E N T M A N A G E M E N T T R U S T S E R V I C E S F I N A N C I A L A D V I C E E S TAT E P L A N N I N G • Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value N O R WAY S AV I N G S A S S E T M A N AG E M E N T G R O U P As fiduciaries, we act with only your best interest in mind. Lewiston's downtown redevelopment goes beyond Lisbon Street B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r Beyond Lewiston's highly visible redevelopment of downtown Lisbon Street and the Bates Mill complex is a small-scale project in the works. The prospective renovation of the former Lewiston Fire Department substation at 188 Lincoln St. is being taken on by two people with a vision for what is now a neglected property. Kara Wilbur, an urban planner at Principle Group in Portland and co-chair of Build Maine, and Paul Peck, chairman of MEREDA, real estate developer at LWS Development and a real estate attorney at Drummond & Drummond, have an option to purchase the property from the city for $1, pending identifi cation of a commercial tenant. Rehabilitation for ground-fl oor commercial use and two second-story residential units is estimated to cost $600,000 to $800,000. Wilbur says she became interested in the building, which dates to 1964, when she saw it was slated for demolition. "I wondered if there could be a different path- way," Wilbur says. Why this property? "Because it was in great shape — really solid concrete and masonry. The interior is a cool open space." Caleb Johnson Studio's rendering of what it will look like would be a signifi cant upgrade from what you can see on the Google street view. Wilbur and Peck have a letter of intent signed with a tenant, Portland Pie Co., and expect to fi nalize the lease in the coming weeks. After that, they will push to get the fi nal OK from the National Park Service for historic tax credits and begin the renovation. Though it's located on the fringe of the down- town commercial activity, Wilbur says the neigh- borhood has vitality. "This is really looking at expanding that area of energy so that it's pulled more toward the river and out further toward Lincoln Street," she says. L ewiston's downtown redevelopment is not necessarily a new story. Indeed, changes on Lisbon Street have been slow and organic. But the businesses that have opened, the investment that's been made and the enthusiasm shown by those that have put skin in the game is noteworthy, as our cover story indicates. At the Bates Mill, the addition of Grand Rounds, a kind of health care concierge service for companies, gives another shot of momentum to Lewiston. Across the river, the Auburn- Lewiston Airport is investing in upgrades and is primed to work closely with businesses in the business and industrial parks. S TA R T I N G O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » L R E N D E R I N G / C A L E B J O H N S O N S T U D I O Portland Pie Co. has signed a letter of intent to be an anchor tenant in an old fi re substation at 188 Lincoln St. in Lewiston. The site will be redeveloped.

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